Photos by:

Today’s wedding comes to us all the way from Greece, and if this county hasn’t made your vacation destination list yet, we’re pretty positive it will after you see this stunner from Olga Plakitina and Wedding in Crete. Tatyana and Denis had an intimate destination celebration, with only their very closest friends and family in tow. The result is positively cozy and a wonderful breath of fresh air!

Photos by:

The Amalfi Coast is already so stunning on its own, it’s difficult to believe it could get even more beautiful — but the wedding of Greta and Marius made it shine even brighter than usual. Aberrazioni Cromatiche worked double duty taking photographs and capturing the wedding film, which we’re thrilled to share with you at the end of this post!

Photos by:

We are oh so excited to share with you this real wedding that’s straight out of a Christmas card! This fresh powdered scene proved to be the perfect backdrop for Anton and Eugenia’s nuptials, and we love that every small detail was an unexpected, but amazingly creative nod to the way the couple first met (you’ll never guess!). Some of our favorite elements include the blue scaled cake, the peppermint bark and marshmallow filled dessert station and the gold terrariums suspended from a mix of wiry branches and twinkle lights – bless Holiday Everyday for this brilliance! July Event incorporated pine needles everywhere they could, and we are obsessed with Eugenia’s bouquet that looks simply frost-kissed. But perhaps the most touching part of this whole celebration was Eugenia’s surprise musical performance (in more ways than one) captured flawlessly by WarmPhoto! Okay enough talking. More ooh-ing and ahh-ing!

From the photographer, WarmPhoto: Anton and Eugenia met ten years ago. She took Mathematics courses at the State University, where Anton taught. Almost ten years after Anton made the marriage proposal on one of the most beautiful squares in Rome under the sparkling light of the sun and the sounds of Italian music.Read more

Photos by:

Another onelove photography beauty and it takes place all in the majesty of the great outdoors at California’s Demetria Estate. Genevieve and Clark’s wedding is just so elegant and what I love the most about it is that despite hosting their big day outdoors, they pull in lovely, soft pops of color that simply work well with the vineyard surroundings. From the gray in Clark’s dapper suit to the sweet pink hue of Genevieve’s bridesmaids’ dresses and the dahlias in the centerpieces by Connor Casavan, it was all compiled so effortlessly by Emily Bowser. Enjoy this classic garden fête!

Photos by:

Elizabeth Marie Photos takes us on a visual journey in this majestic jewel-toned photoshoot in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Flashes of pink, purple, blue and gold bob along the tablescape, which features ornamentation from end to end. We are especially enamored by the red velvet sweetheart chairs and the hand lettered ceremony backdrop! Sophisticated Florals by Stephanie spares no eucalyptus garland in the decor and ensures that blooms overflow from a gold-speckled cake that has its very own terrarium. Aren’t you oh-so-glad you stumbled across these darling images?

Photos by:

Suspended dip-dyed tea bags, personalized marshmallows, and mismatched dining chairs from Forget-me-not Vintage Rentals were just a few of our favorite touches from today’s styled shoot. Patchwork Planning and Monzie’s Floral made sure that comfort was never compromised as they jazzed up this rustic campfire space with charming place settings, warmly-hued blankets and thoughtfully placed antlers. Another feature we can’t get over is the bride’s lace enhanced two-piece gown. Flawless. Let’s dive right in to these spectacular images from Emcee Studio Photographie, shall we?

Photos by:

Can you imagine anything more romantic than a modern Victorian photoshoot beneath a waterfall? We can’t either! These stunning images from Meghan Rose Photography showcase the very best things about nature (and the glorious manmade vignettes they can host). It’s hard to choose a favorite part of this shoot, but it’s a close tie between the playful portraits along the stream and the wild + unruly flowers growing from the table itself. The artful details from Flowers by Tedi are truly what make this woodsy shoot unique, and you’ll be delighted to find out which storybook romance inspired the concept itself!

Photos by:

To say the least about this Christa Taylor Photography wedding inspiration shoot, it is stunning. It’s just in time for the change of the season and we’re completely enamored by all of the colors and the ever-dreamy vineyard setting. CK Weddings and Events enlisted a real engaged couple as their models (an idea we always love) and dressed them up finely to suit the chic, provincial vibe and the soft colors found in the tablescapes and the floral design by Bloomsberry. A personal fave of this shoot are the colors: finely mimicking that always-cool change from the bright heyday of summer to the warmth of fall.

From the photographer, Christa Taylor Photography: It only took one visit to Maysara Winery for it to earn a spot on our favorite venues list. From the gorgeous stone walls, surrounding hills, and incredible live wood architecture, this winery perfectly captures majestic Pacific Northwest beauty.

To play off the stunning and romantic setting, we pulled in fresh copper touches which balances so well with the blush, grays, and soft greenery. During the early spring the winery is drenched in soft sunlight and sets a natural tone for these delicate colors, rich textures, and organic elements. Since Maysara Winery is a beautiful example of a family run and local business, keeping all the elements of the shoot local was a passion. The wedding dress was designed and made by the talented Nature of Isa, the gorgeous jewelry created by VK Designs, and the modern suiting provided by Este’s Menswear. Even the darling couple are local and engaged to be married later this summer!

Photos by:

The California redwoods are such impressive creations of nature, and in all of their majesty, it’s no wonder why so many couples choose to get hitched there. It’s gorgeous! Victoria Carlson Photography snapped Lindsay and Eugene’s romantic wedding day to our delight. For color choices, Lindsay wanted to keep the focal point on all of the organic elements around, so a clean neutral palette with hints of greys and blues were important. There’s nothing more timeless than a pairing of white and green florals and root & riot did a fantastic job creating such complementary pieces. We give this wedding an A-plus!

From the bride, Lindsay: Whenever my husband and I talked about getting married, we always knew we would say “I do” beneath the redwoods. My husband and I love being outdoors in nature, but one of our favorite places to be is amongst the trees. We wanted something simple, elegant, and timeless, yet also laid back and relaxed. My husband and I are not formal people by any means, so it was important for us to have an environment that was comfortable for our guests. Whenever people would ask me about the vibe of my wedding I would tell them, “it’s going to be a magical, romantic forest wedding!” I really feel like I accomplished this! But some more adjectives I used to describe the day were: ethereal and woodsy. Before I purchased ANYTHING I would make sure it stayed true to these descriptions.

Bouquet recipe: Mock-orange, white roses, white peonies, ferns… to name a few! My florists were amazing! I sent them a few inspiration photos that I found off Pinterest, and my task to them was to make me a beautiful, big, bouquet full of white flowers and ferns.

I chose a neutral color scheme and I feel like that perfectly complemented the gorgeous setting and the feel of the day. I knew I wanted my bridesmaids in different dresses and different colors, but was still somewhat particular on the dresses they chose. I ended up giving them 10-15 different dresses to choose from and everyone chose the dress that I wanted for them (without me saying a thing!). I thought they all looked beautiful! For the men, I think my groom looks so handsome in navy, so we found a gorgeous slate blue tux for him. He wanted to be in something different than his groomsmen, so we chose grey suits with navy ties for the rest of the guys!

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? Stay true to you. It sounds cliché, but it is so easy to lose sight of you and your partner during the craziness of wedding planning. Remember that this day is about the two of you and the celebration of your love and commitment to each other – that is all that matters. I loved my wedding day and it went perfect, despite all the things that actually “went wrong” (like it raining on wedding day for our outdoor wedding!) But what I loved the most and what I remember the most are all the amazing moments shared between my husband and me.

Don’t worry about making everyone else happy and just worry about making you and your groom as happy as you can be! Also, we highly encourage a first look. I know it’s not traditional, but aside from saying our vows during our ceremony, our first look was the most special moment. I can’t even explain in words how beautiful that moment was, and one of the only moments of the day where it was just the two of us.

Wedding Music:
Bridal Party Processional: “I Love You Because,” Johnny Cash
Bridal Processional: “A Thousand Years,” The Piano Guys
Recessional: “Forever and Ever, Amen,” Randy Travis (Eugene and I always send each other songs [and we did this a lot during the beginning of our relationship!]. One night, a few days before he told me he loved me, he sent me this song.)
First Dance: “Then,” Brad Paisley.
Father/Daughter Dance: “I Loved Her First,” Heartland
Mother/Son Dance: “Simple Man (acoustic version),” Shinedown

Photos by:

Flowing drinks, gorgeous sky-high redwood trees, and sweet whimsical touches are some of things that made up Ashley and Mike’s fun Carmel wedding. EPlove was there to capture their big day and we’re so, so glad he sent over some amazing shots of their wedding ceremony amidst the mighty California redwood trees. Hana and Pine wanted to keep up with the woodsy theme and incorporated some lovely, dusky-colored floral arrangements of roses and greenery. This beautiful wedding day planned by Colette Cuccia has our hearts fluttering and dreaming of California!

From the bride, Ashley: I didn’t have a set vibe but hoped it reflected our personalities while also highlighting our surroundings. Our wedding was in the foothills of Carmel influenced by the Rumsen Native Americans, Mission Indians and Ranchers so we had so much history to pull inspiration from. Getting married in the redwoods was so magical and whimsical, we joked that fairies were going to fly me down the aisle. We wanted every element to reflect us as a couple and as individuals. Read more

Photos by:

When Roma Elizabeth was given the chance to head to a workshop by Belleandbeau Photography in England last summer, she jumped for joy at the potential of how beautiful this shoot could be. It turned out to be an artfully-crafted love story between a dashing English gentleman and a lovely lady born and bred in the Italian countryside. The sweetest letters were written and the shoot was their wedding day. How sublime is that and what an experience! The Rose Shed contributed their floral expertise to the whole shoot and made the whole day even more romantic, with bountiful bouquets and centerpieces.

From the photographer, Roma Elizabeth: I think it is important to continue to improve as a wedding photographer and to take every opportunity to learn as much as I can from other people working in the industry who I admire. That’s why I was so excited when last summer I had the honour of being picked as one of 13 participants to be part of a fine art wedding photography workshop with the very talented Naomi and Holly from Belleandbeau Photography.

Photos by:

Let’s switch things up a bit today and go for dark reds and purples in a lovely moody shoot photographed by MW Photography and thoughtfully created by Jessica Wonders. First of all, let’s gab about how amazing this styled shoot looks! From the fashion picks of the bride and groom, to the rich berry tones in her bouquet and the blossoming centerpieces with flowers like dahlias and calla lilies by Forget Me Not Floral Events, this wedding inspiration is just a major win all over. Switch up your wedding inspiration boards and take a gander at this dusky beauty.

From the photographer, MW Photography: I personally loved working with all the vendors on this project. It was my first styled shoot and I think all the vendors did a fantastic job by really pulling this together. My favorite part–although hard to choose because so many things tied in so well–was the flowers! They just make me swoon! All of us had a fun time with the photos and the details of tying in the plum and red theme with winter.Read more

Photos by:

How lucky is it to be able to pull off a beautiful Galia Lahav wedding dress straight off of the runway and use it in a shoot with Connie Whitlock? Quite lucky, indeed! We’re so excited to share these yummy photos with you so you can go gaga over all of the beautiful details of Moss Denver‘s transformation, and the modern color palette with the Victorian garden-esque florals by Flora by Nora. Simply amazing!

From the photographer, Connie Whitlock: The inspiration for the colors, mood, and style of the shoot came from the invitation suite provided by Wedding Paper Divas. The shoot took place in a modern/urban venue, but we kept the decor very organic and simple. The stunning dress by Galia Lahav is fresh off the runway – we lucked out and had a chance to incorporate it while it’s going around on the trunk show circuit. We loved the juxtaposition of the clean, elegant lines of the modern, urban, industrial venue against the organic feel of all of the decor we chose. We chose organic textures like rustic wood, silks, and linens, and layered with a simple color palette and lush florals. We used overflowing floral to accent everything and to create that look.

Photos by:

We just love the inspiration behind today’s shoot oh-so-much. Inspired by the herbs listed in Simon & Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair,” the talented team of White Rabbit Studios, Kathleen Bernal Events, and Old Frond set to work on a styled shoot incorporating these fragrant green bits. The result? Total romantic bliss.

From the event designer, Kathleen Bernal Events: This wedding inspired styled shoot, entitled “fair and light,” was designed and planned by Kathleen Bernal Events and photographed perfectly by Ashley Vaughn, with White Rabbit Studios. The inspirations for this shoot were the herbs, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, as listed in the Simon and Garfunkel song, “Scarborough Fair.” Taking us back to the Medieval times, these particular herbs were often used in wedding bouquets, as symbols of love and prosperity, and ways to ward off bitter and sad feelings. Not only are their scents heavenly, but they are also long-lasting. Mixing these age-old traditions with modern foliage created a stunning set of florals for the bouquet and table decorations. Styled in a magical woodsy area, with traces of a snowy day still remaining, we could not have asked for a more romantic setting.

From the bride, Ellie: Being that our wedding took place out-of-state, it began with quite a bit of research online and frequent trips to Denver to scope out potential wedding vendors. We also spent many nights on the couch with a glass of wine in-hand exploring different design ideas and vendor options. Our saving grace was hiring our local wedding planner, who was able to help make our dream come to life while we were home in Texas. What were your favorite moments from the wedding day? Right before our grand exit, our band put Michael Buble’s “Save the Last Dance For Me” on. While our wedding planner was lining up our guests outside the tent, the two of us remained inside and broke out in a completely unplanned, final bride and groom dance. It was such a magical moment, complete with cheers from our band members!

From the photographer, Sara Lynn Photographic: Ellie and Zach were married on September 26, 2015 at Arrow C Ranch in Parker, Colorado. Their day was a beautifully planned equestrian ranch wedding with bohemian touches mixed with luxury. Some of my favorite touches were the antlers and furs scattered around the tables, chairs and lounge seating area. Ellie’s ‘something blue’ were high heeled Manolo Blahnik’s that turned her into a supermodel that she paired with a stunning layered gown.

Their ceremony was in the estate’s courtyard and they were married under a draped arbor with Pike’s Peak in the background. The reception was kicked off with yard games, drinks and appetizers and guests made their way to the tented reception where they feasted on a Texan themed meal to tie in Zach’s southern roots. The night had a cool breeze, perfect because as the band kicked off Zach and Ellie’s first dance, the full harvest moon began to show – something almost every guest took snapshots of.

Photos by:

“Farmhouse Fête” conjures up a world of beautiful ideas for me, and I have to say the team involved in this event for The Big Fake Wedding’s trip to Raleigh did a brilliant idea bringing everything together. Bright colors are mixed with rustic elements and tied together with lots of candlelight, and we couldn’t love the effect any more than we do already!

From the bride, Hannah: When we were dating, we spent a lot of time together hiking and camping in the mountains. Being out in nature is part of who we are as a couple, but weren’t sure how we would incorporate the mountains and outdoors into our big day. We were so pleased when we found this venue with amazing atmosphere and views, because after that the rest simply fell into place. We wanted our day to have a classic but rustic feel.

Any advice for other couples planning their weddings now? Let the day be what it becomes, let it take on its own charm and its own beauty. I wish I hadn’t worried or cared so much about the small things. My favorite moments were those I hadn’t planned or overanalyzed in my head. The less micro-planning and overthinking the better; just be happy with your decisions, and move on. Remember, regardless of all the details, it going to be a wonderful special day!

From the photographer, Chelsea Morgan: Hannah and Jesse’s wedding was a beautiful display of rustic elegance. The Sawyer Family Farmstead was a unique approach to a mountain getaway, with the most stunning views and open reception area that allowed you to feel the cool mountain air. This Christmas tree farm was nestled perfectly in the North Carolina mountains, providing the most gorgeous backdrop for Hannah and Jesse to say their “I do’s.” Hannah and Jesse had an intimate wedding day amongst their closest family and friends. They added simple touches of green to their reception space to bring fresh natural elements indoors. Hannah has quite the green thumb and created many of the centerpieces herself. Their cake was decorated with olive leaves and Hannah’s bouquet was created with a combination of dried grasses and sea oats. It was the best smelling detail I have experienced at a wedding! With the perfect weather, we took our time after the ceremony to roam the beautiful property of their venue as the sun dipped below the mountains. Their day ended with the two of them dancing together with family and friends to tunes played by a small band. The mountain venue truly set the overall rustic outdoor atmosphere the couple wanted for during their special day. It was one of the most special weddings I have ever had the chance to photograph.

Photos by:

We know there are a ton of fall lovers out there, and this wedding is for you. Bride Samantha loves the cozy season too, and had always envisioned pumpkins at her own wedding — and that’s exactly what she got! Jenny Smith & Co. and Mayberry Events put together some beautiful work here, and thanks to their considerable talents we’re sharing this beaut with you all today.

From the bride, Samantha: We met at a coffee shop bible study through a friend. After our first meeting, David started spending time with the homeless with me every Friday at a park in Costa Mesa. In the midst of loving the forgotten and downtrodden our love began. Two years later (with one year being long distance) David proposed! I love fall and I have always envisioned pumpkins at my wedding! I wanted my wedding to be fall themed – fairy tale pumpkins, fall colors, pumpkin desserts, pumpkin patch, etc. Paramount Ranch was the perfect venue for us. We wanted to feel secluded and surrounded by nature. The venue had a rustic feel and included an old town used in film productions. It was so unique and had such a romantic feel.

During our ceremony we said our own vows and we took communion together. We wanted to invite people into our relationship and to know our love is founded on Jesus’ love for us. My most vivid memory that day was during our vows. I laughed when I heard his personal vows because they were almost the exact same as mine. It reminded me that we were like minded and had similar desires for our marriage.

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? My advice to future brides and grooms is to be emotionally present. Remember that your wedding day isn’t about the decor, DIY, or food. It is about committing your life to the person in front of you. Be present with each other and take in beauty of the love you are celebrating.

Videography

Photos by:

With a color palette of blues, reds, and greens and a “farmhouse fête” vision (think country charm meets relaxation and sophistication) vision, today’s vendors teamed up for the very first Big Fake Wedding in Baltimore. Our favorite detail of the day? Definitely the living wall ceremony backdrop — you won’t want to miss it!

Photos by:

While themes certainly aren’t necessary for a wedding day, we sure enjoy seeing brides go all out with their own once in a while. Jana and Heinrich chose a “rabbits and wreaths” theme, which had tablescapes full of sweet bunny ceramics, rabbit shaped boutonnieres made out of wood for the gents, and floral wreaths for the bridesmaids in lieu of traditional bouquets. Dearheart Photos and The Stables did some incredible work, so let’s take a look!

From the bride, Jana: I wanted my wedding to be very rustic and we wanted to do everything ourselves.
We wanted to create a whimsical feel. Our theme was “rabbits and wreaths.” All the tables had wooden or ceramic rabbits on them. The table numbers hung from wreaths. We also hid rabbits in the garden at the pre-drinks. We did not have a set colour scheme my bridesmaids wore different coloured dresses and the flowers were all different colours. We wanted to incorporate the feeling of spring.

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? Just remember what the day is all about…it is a celebration of your relationship and your wedding day should reflect your personalities. People will try to persuade you into going with their choices but stand your ground and go with your gut feeling. Your day should be about your style and not someone else’s.

Photos by:

Goodness gracious ladies and gents, sit tight because we’ve got one heck of an event to share with you today. Stacy and TJ’s wedding at the renowned Sundance Resort in Utah is a brilliant collaboration of vision and talented vendors, including Rebekah Westover, Michelle Leo Events, and Urban Chateau, just to name a handful. Their day is overflowing with captivating ideas, so let’s jump on in!

From the bride, Stacy: Early on we decided that we wanted our wedding to be an intimate celebration with our closest family and friends, spanning several days. We wanted every element to reflect us as a couple, which meant balancing TJ’s love for the outdoors and rustic aesthetics with some glamour in a place that has special meaning to us. A year earlier, TJ and I shared our first camping trip at Mount Timpanogos, and loved the idea of having the mountain serve as the backdrop for the weekend’s festivities. In addition to the wedding, over the course of the weekend we invited guests to partake a number of activities and events that we coordinated including: hikes, a rafting excursion, a BBQ with cornhole and a bluegrass band, and more.

During our nondenominational wedding ceremony, guests were given a small cup which contained wine from a bottle that TJ had purchased in France as a child. A young romantic at heart, while in France on a school trip, TJ managed to use all the cash he had on hand to buy a nice bottle of wine with the intention of sharing it with his future wife on their wedding day. He also promised himself that he would take his future wife there one day. Cheers to that! Hours after our engagement, he surprised me with a trip to Paris that night.

Our wedding was sophisticated and down to earth at once, and truly a reflection of us and our love for each other. We didn’t want to compete with the natural beauty of the mountain setting, so we incorporated minimal teal, gold, and tribal elements with neutral colors throughout. Guests received teal and gold arrows with their names calligraphed on the fletching to escort them to their seats. Bistro lights hung above the dining room and chandeliers were suspended above the dance floor to balance the rustic glam aesthetic. Meanwhile the floral centerpieces provided pops of bright pinks and reds, and taper candles and votives lined the blue farm tables. We wanted guests to be comfortable and have places they could go to sit and talk once the dancing began, so we arranged vintage furniture inside by the dance floor and outside on the deck with fire pits.

Given we were planning the wedding from NYC, we decided to focus on a few specific DIY items in order to personalize the event. Upon checkin, guests were greeted with linen hiking backpacks filled with assorted goods including the homemade gorp that I always make for TJ when we go hiking. The key ingredient is orange chocolate! At the wedding, we served guests coffee that we brought from Irving Farm in NYC, the location of our first date. We also spent a tremendous amount of time writing personalized wedding vows and crafting decor items for the July 4th BBQ rehearsal dinner.

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? Your wedding is likely to be the only time in your life when all of your loved ones are together in one place at the same time. Take time throughout the course of the festivities to look around and soak up the love surrounding you. I can’t recall half the details of our wedding day, but when I close my eyes I can recall the feeling of pure joy and the chill that overcame me as I looked out to all our friends and family from our chuppah and the dance floor on our wedding day. That memory will forever warm my heart. Also remember to take ample time for yourself and your significant other. On the morning of my wedding day, I woke up at dawn and sat outside with my journal and a cup of coffee for two hours before my mother-in-law led yoga and meditation for the bridal party. It was such a refreshing way to start the day and allowed me to reflect on the significance of the commitment TJ and I were making. We also made it a point to have plenty of private time together throughout the weekend, whether it was taking the scenic detour to get to our rehearsal dinner, going for a walk on the mountain during cocktail hour, or enjoying a private picnic lunch after the group hike. Inevitably the events will fly by, but taking a moment here and there to pause and reflect on the occasion with your partner will help you be more fully present in the moment. These moments ended up being some of my favorites and are the ones I recall most vividly months later.

From the event designer, Michelle Leo Events: Stacy and TJ were a delightful couple to work with. It always helps when my clients are interested in creating something truly unique and personal rather than duplicating something they’ve already seen when it comes to their wedding design. Stacy put her faith in me as her designer and together I feel we were able to create something that was as equally fun as it was elegant. We infused rustic pieces into the beautiful setting of Sundance through wood tables and linen furniture pieces to create comfortable conversation areas for guests. To balance these rustic elements, we used lush blooms in bold colors on top of the light wood tables dressed with cream runners to create drama. A variety of gold candlesticks with tapers also dressed the tables. This lighting combined with the strung bistro lights overhead created a comfortable and romantic atmosphere for guests to dine. One of my favorite elements of this “Tribal Glam” wedding was the combination of tribal elements throughout the paper suite. I loved the patterned used by Peter Loves Jane on Stacy and TJ’s invitation suite which carried over to the table menu and place cards. To accentuate this tribal element, we designed a completely custom gold and ivory target for the escort card display. The target was filled with darling mint and gold arrows provided by Fletcher and Fox. Guests names and table assignments appeared in hand calligraphy by Curlique Designs on the fletching of each arrow. Guests really enjoyed approaching the target and locating their arrow (which also served as their wedding favor). Rather than signing a typical guest book, guests wrote messages to the couple in a coffee table book boasting images of beautiful Mount Timpanogos, the mountain that served as the beautiful and natural backdrop for Stacy and TJ’s nuptials. Overall this wedding was a joy to plan and design and I’m extremely happy with the results of this darling celebration.

Photos by:

We hope you’ve got some time to spare, because this wedding from Erica Houck Photography is a doozy – in the best way ever. Bride Chelseah planned her wedding day around the theme of vintage-antique-meets-boho, and the result is surprisingly timeless and absolutely breathtaking. Don’t you just love her cascading bouquet with heaps of eucalyptus?

From the bride, Chelseah: Making my day happen on a budget was not only important to me, it was my only option. I went full commando mode to make our beautiful wedding happen on a non-existent budget. I wanted our wedding to be fun and laid back. Everything spurred from there. Fiddy and I are both very into antiques and items chucked full of patina so we centered our wedding theme on that shared love (the bohemian aspects were all me though… guilty as charged). I went from flea market, to thrift stores and even to some sketchy parts of town (wouldn’t recommend it) to collect all of the items. It took about a year but came in under $1000 total for all of our vintage décor.

Most everything was made or assembled either by myself, my mom, her best friend Debbie, or my rock star Matron of Honor, Andrea. There was so much painting and assembling involved it took nearly our entire engagement to complete all of the projects. Though Pinterest is a wonderful thing, do your research. Sometimes Pinterest doesn’t always warn you about the potential problems, like the health concerns related to sanding lead paint or that making a door table really isn’t that simple. A wonderful friend from church, Erin and her amazing crew, did all of my flowers for me. We bought wholesale and my method for picking flowers was based on three things. 1. What is in season? 2. What do I like? 3. Which flowers will give me the best bang for my buck? We used a lot of silver dollar eucalyptus, a tree which we had access to, which saved us tons.

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? The greatest most helpful lesson I learned is that anything with “wedding” attached to it is likely going to cost at least three times more. Sometimes we as brides get so caught up in what a wedding is supposed to be we lose track of not only our budgets but what we really want. Taking the word “wedding” out of most of your searches will not only give you more options but a better variety of prices. This is particularly helpful when you are looking for vendors. Look for non-traditional vendors who are excited to be a unique addition to your event and are willing and motivated to work with you. Never be afraid to negotiate.

Photos by:

Groomsmen in dashing blue suits, a stunning bride in a Spanish veil, and a reception that sends our hearts aflutter – how could we possibly resist? Brett and Brittany’s wedding day came together with the talents of David Guenther, D’elle Event & Design, and Tickled Floral, who all made this glamorous and relaxed day shine as bright as fireworks.

From the bride, Brittany: I wanted our wedding to be bright and fun, laid back, but glamorous. Garden Party, outdoors, but not backyard BBQ – even though our caterer did BBQ our food :) Our colors were mainly bright pink and purple, but with bright green accents. My husband and his friends made all of the wood tables and the wooden cross at the alter of our ceremony. All decorations were hand made – sewed the fabric that draped on the ceiling of the tent, made a cone back drop, reused extra invites to make paper fans for all guests for the ceremony.

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? Get a wedding planner, because you will go crazy without one! Don’t listen to what other people want for your wedding, do what you want and what makes you happy. Start planning early! (and saving too!) Don’t spend more than you can afford – it’s only one day of your life. Go on a honeymoon right after – you need a break!

Wedding Music:We had a live guitar soloist, our good friend played for our ceremony and he just played whatever he wanted to! I don’t even remember what it sounded like :)
First Dance: “Never Going to Give You Up” (original song by Rick Astley) sung live by Ryan Hamilton and acoustic guitar by Ryan Jacobson.

From the photographer, David: Brett and Brittany are both super stylish, and they’re probably the coolest bride and groom I’ve ever had the pleasure of shooting. Brett hand-built every table at the reception, and the elegant style of the decor matched perfectly with his rustic craftsmanship. It’s rare to find a couple whose personal style matches so well with the style of the wedding day, but these two made it happen.

Photos by:

We’ve seen many a bridal hairstyle here at Ruffled over the years (and have pinned many faves!), and this high bun + braided halo + floral crown is quickly rising to the top of our list of most inspiring styles. Kristin La Voie Photography worked her photographic magic behind the scenes for us, so let’s take a look!

From the photographer, Kristin: Do you know that feeling you get when you just know you are in the presence of pure happiness and love? There are no two sweeter, more down-to-earth people than right here. I couldn’t stop smiling. In fact, my cheeks still hurt from all the smiling while editing. No one else has ever had quite that effect on me while editing either. Even tears of happiness ran down my puffy cheeks.

You see for Heather & Mike, the house where Mike grew up was the perfect location for them to tie the knot surrounded by their closest family and friends in the backyard. They walked hand in hand together down a row of trees, to no music at all. They had their loved ones standing around them, encircling them in more love than one could imagine. They did not need a long drawn out ceremony, because all they wanted was to profess their forever to each other. They cried together. They laughed together. They were just themselves. And it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. All of the details, the colors, the ambiance; swoon. And a good backyard wedding to me… well, it’s the most beautiful type of wedding there is.

Photos by:

When your family owns a ranch as gorgeous as this one, how could you resist holding your wedding on its expansive grounds? Mint Photography got behind the camera to photography Shylah and Phillip’s romantic wedding, filled with touching nods to nature and relaxed bohemian style. Aren’t you just crazy about the wildflower floral arrangements?

From the bride, Shylah: A mixture of bohemian and neutral is what I envisioned. I had always wanted to have my wedding on my family ranch that I have lived on my whole life. However, I did not want a “ranchy” wedding. My style is more natural and hippie. Under the trees and lights is the dream I had for my wedding. Natural is the word I heard from many people at our wedding. It was always hard for me to explain the look of my wedding until I heard that word and it explained it perfectly! I love all things natural. I didn’t want a whole lot of color. I just wanted the outdoors to be our decoration. Many flowers we had, besides the arrangements by the florist, were wildflowers from the side of the road we picked the morning of the wedding! I LOVE wildflowers.

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? If budget allows, get a wedding planner! It took so much stress off of me and my family. I didn’t have to worry about a thing. Also, get a videographer. Pictures are wonderful and all but to have a video to see exactly what all went on is so great to have! Make it different and your own. When a wedding is different than the norm is what makes a wedding super great and memorable. I have Muscular Dystrophy so my brother carried me to my dad at the beginning of the aisle where I was able to walk and Phillip carried me out during the recessional. Many said that made it so special and touching. We said our own vows to make it more personal and as Christians we wanted to wash each others feet symbolizing how we will serve each other throughout our life as Christ did the same in the Bible. All of these things helped it be different than the ordinary.

From the photographers, Allie and Kelly of Mint Photography: This bohemian DIY wedding took place on the bride’s private ranch in Brownwood TX. They found one of the biggest oaks trees on the property and cleared out the space for their ceremony. They incorporated natural, earthly elements to reflect the land around them. The ceremony was especially symbolic. It took place on her grandfathers anniversary and he also officiated the ceremony. They wrote their own vows to make it more personal and one of my favorite parts of the ceremony was the washing of their feet together, which symbolized how they will serve one another throughout their marriage together. The reception was a fun, laid back party. BBQ was served and everyone danced under the stars and lights draped from the canopy of trees.

Photos by:

While a trip to Tuscany may not be in the budget right now, who says we can’t enjoy its effortless aesthetic by way of a charming styled shoot? Starfish Studios, Oscar Herrera Vintage Floral Design, and Unearthed Vintage of Florida recently collaborated on this sunny shoot heavy on Italian inspiration and gorgeous ideas for you to ooh and ahh over.

From the photographer, Starfish Studios: Whenever I picture a dream destination wedding, the first picture that pops into my mind is Tuscany. Since a trip to Tuscany was not in the cards, we brought Tuscany to us in the Redlands in South Florida. The gorgeous venue, Estancia Culinaria has all of the elements of what you would find in Tuscany. The golden light, gorgeous trees and the fragrant air. Katie from Unearthed Vintage wanted to enhance that by adding a stylish homage like a gelato bar and other amazing vintage finds.

The flowers and color choice of rose and blush pinks from Oscar Herrera Floral Design worked perfectly alongside the woods, gold and rust that were featured throughout the shoot. Janderyn from Earth and Sugar encompassed the feeling of the inspirational shoot into a four tier cake with gold foil and beautiful sugar flowers. Our beautiful bride was dressed in a soft romantic gown from Sasha’s Bridal Boutique. The gorgeous light and the feeling of Tuscany was brought to life through the camera lens of Dan from Starfish Studios.

Photos by:

When you put together a wedding by the water and styling by lace and likes, you’re essentially guaranteed a winner. Dorene and Omri’s wedding was filled to the brim with amazing styling ideas, like the painted cinder blocks and the epic wood seating chart display, all captured by the wonderful Rad + In Love.

From the bride, Dorene: Our style is eclectic and wanted to incorporate a mix of modern and traditional elements. We wanted to combine our two families and celebrate our own cultures, so we incorporated Israeli and Jewish traditions into the ceremony, and Chinese elements within the reception. Unbeknownst to the guests or even Omri, I changed outfits in the middle of the reception and came out in my mom’s Cheongsam, a traditional Chinese reception dress, which she wore in her wedding! Our number one priority was to celebrate our marriage and our newly merged families and we wanted to make sure everyone had a good time. Rachael helped to create a beautiful and unique ceremony-scape that embodied the both of us – there were soft flowing elements (the hand-dyed muslin hanging from the chuppah) and also more modern and rustic elements, such as the raw wooden podium and cement cinder blocks lining the aisle.

Our wedding was a mix of modern, rustic, romantic, and traditional. Our color palette included various shades of pinks and nudes, golds and silver/greys, and soft green colors. Leah did an amazing job incorporating the colors and truly embodied the look and feel we wanted in all the floral arrangements. There were quite a few DIY projects involved, and my sister Danielle was a huge help with all of them! She made all the wooden signs, table numbers, and wrote out all the seating tags. I constructed the wooden podium, the wooden card box, and painted all the cinderblocks with gold spray paint (which Rachael expertly styled for the aisle). My mom put together the party favors which were bags of coffee beans stamped with our monogram, as well as the bow tie and ring pillow for our ring bearer, Teddy. Rachael and her team constructed the reclaimed wood seating chart backdrop, and also dyed the muslin for the chuppah.

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? I would recommend starting early and making sure you have a clear timeline. Things always take longer than they seem, so make sure you give yourself a buffer! We also realized early on that we did not need everything and anything under the sun – so it’s important to make sure your priorities and must-haves are clear and not to stray too far from the plan or budget! Also, it is important to ask for help when you need it – it really takes a village and we are so lucky that our families were really hands on and were able to tackle any challenges we gave them!

Photos by:

Ooh-wee, this wedding. Just one look at their sweetheart table backdrop, and we were in love. Bride Rachel made pinwheels the central focus of her wedding in honor of her nephew, and we have to say the design worked out perfectly. Thanks to Rachel Havel and Platte Floral for your work on this one!

From the bride, Rachel: For our wedding I envisioned something very whimsical, vintage, and rustic. Pinwheels were a big part of the theme. They are my nephew’s favorite and I didn’t think he would be able to make it, so I wanted to incorporate him. (Thankfully he made it — he is the little guy with suspenders.) It was all about the details.

Flower recipe: My bouquet contained white peonies, pink ranunculus, pink waxflower, and yellow button. For the centerpieces we had a mix of white yellow and pink flowers including snapdragons. For the bridesmaids bouquets they had hydrangea. All of the bouquets and boutonnieres had hand made pinwheels in them.

We had one pinwheel for each guest, we had them as centerpieces hanging from the ceiling, we had them on the curtain behind the head table as a back drop, we had 12 4-foot tall working metal pin wheels for the ceremony. Most of our wedding was DIY — my mother hand made every napkin, the runner, we made every pinwheel by hand, my dad hand made and welded each metal pinwheel, he also made a stand for the doors I walked through down the aisle, we made our cake stand, we made all of the table runners, we made all the chair ties, my mother and I made the belt on my dress, we made all of the frames with family couples pictures that were sitting on my great grandmother’s pie chest; our whole wedding was DIY. I definitely became a pinwheel pro after making 600 of them! My family worked so hard to make this wedding everything I dreamed of and I am so thankful!

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? I would definitely say don’t plan too much, don’t stress out too much about all the details just remember what really matters is that you are marrying the love of your life!

From the photographer, Rachel Havel: This gorgeous wedding was only possible with the help and hands of the bride and her family’s DIY commitment. They spent a year making hundreds of pinwheels by hand. The bride’s father welded metal pinwheels and created the doors to the ceremony aisle. They sewed the napkins, seat pads for the benches, and even the bride’s belt she wore on the wedding day. It was so tastefully done and beautiful and all the details came together so nicely. Beyond that, Rachel & Chris are high school sweetheart and so madly in love with each other. Their love was the main focus on their wedding day and it was apparent. They were such a joy to be around and celebrate as they entered into marriage.

Photos by:

This wedding is absolutely nothing short of relaxed, intimate perfection. Sam and Garth chose to wed each other on a rose farm (have you ever heard of a more perfect venue?), and corralled their family and friends for crafting projects that knocked their big day right out of the park. Dearheart Photos, of course, worked wonders on the images!

From the bride, Sam: We wanted a laid back, beautiful yet not over the top feel for our wedding. We wanted our guests to feel comfortable and to relax and enjoy the day with us. We got married in summer on a rose farm, so I picked up on all the natural colours that surrounded us… white/creams and light pinks with a lot of greenery. There were MANY DIY projects involved. We had a very small budget and produced a wedding we never dreamed we could have. I pulled in many favors and ALL our friends and family to help. We did all the décor, stationery, signs, flowers, music, our band, cake, and garter on our own. It saved us thousands and made the whole project that much more rewarding!

Flower recipe: Seeing as we were on a rose farm, I included some beautiful roses in my arrangements as well as lisianthus, carnations, and more. We also foraged lots of greenery from friends gardens.

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? Lists, lists and more lists! I did my homework, I got quotes upon quotes so I could get a feel for what things cost. Also make sure you delegate duties for your big day to friends and family, so you can relax and enjoy every minute of getting married.

Wedding Music:We struggled with this – my husband and I both LOVE music and found it very difficult to choose from all the songs we love.
Processional: “The Wedding Song,” Matthew Mole
Recessional: “I’ll Take Mine,” Matthew Mole
First Dance: “Bread & Wine,” Josh Garrels

Photos by:

When it comes to wedding days, couples who are wedding photographers themselves always seem to get it right. Anne and Björn have seen many a wedding in their day, so they knew they wanted their wedding to be as stress-free and relaxed as possible. Of course, this doesn’t mean they skimped on style and heartwarming details! Thank you to Carmen and Ingo Photography and Ina Mühlhaus for your wonderful work on this one.

From the bride, Anne: We looked for a relaxed and cosy over-all-feeling with a kind of warm welcome feeling for our guests. No stress with just a rough scribble of the day in our heads. Because of our own profession as wedding photographers, we have seen many weddings and the only thing we wanted to leave behind us was the fear of “over-organizing” our own wedding.

We wanted to celebrate a very naturally and rustic wedding with a lot of little lovely self-made details. When we found the old barn, our feeling said – this is your place to get married. We got married on the meadow in front of the little hut and celebrated in the barn. We decorated with a lot of light-chains around the bars and beams, candles, flowers, old farm apple boxes which we used for a photo corner with old wedding-portraits from our family, pictures from the past, a self-made wooden BAR-sign, wooden sign-posts, and a few pompoms. We spread some straw-bales inside the barn for the look and having a basement for some of our signs. We also prepared a little shisha-lounge with old vintage furniture and our stand light from the flee marked. :) We also had a very old desk and chair where we placed our guestbook and a Polaroid camera. And yes, we had a color scheme – we fell in the love with the color mustard yellow…. :)

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? Just enjoy your anticipation, don’t feel stressed if something won’t workout, just leave it behind you and concentrate on the really important things on your day: Your love to your partner. Have fun to create personal stuff – it’s the own details you will have a relation to. It is fun organize some evenings with friends and prepare stuff for the wedding and combining it with nice food’n’wine. It’s a lot about the people you invite to your wedding – they also will have a bigger relationship to your big day if they were involved from the beginning. Enjoy as much time as possible with family and friends in advance. During that (intimate) time they will get a feeling why you are making the next step in your life and will feel even more with you every second on your wedding day.